FORT LEE, Va. -- Maj. Gen. A.C. Roper took over the reins of the 80th Training Command (TASS) from Maj. Gen. Bill Gerety in a ceremony officiated by Maj. Gen. Marcia Anderson, deputy chief Army Reserve, at the Fort Lee Field House Aug. 23, 2014.

Gerety, who as a civilian is the president and chief executive officer, of Dataline LLC, McLean, Va., and president of Amber Waves Marketing, Inc, Pasadena, Md., commanded the 80th TC, from August 2011 through August 2014. Under his leadership, the 80th TC's three subordinate divisions and one logistical support brigade trained more than 30,000 Soldiers annually.

He directed a team that devised a Concept Plan designed to prepare the command for integration into the One Army School System while saving the Army approximately $275 million. The OASS makes 80th TC schoolhouses accessible to National Guardsmen as well as Army Reserve and Active Component Soldiers.

"There's a PFC (private first class) that will be a sergeant major one day, there's a second lieutenant that will be a general officer one day," said Gerety, who'll be transferring into the Individual Ready Reserve. "What I've been doing is setting the stage for what I hope will be an even better Army for my son and other Soldiers as they come along."

The 80th Training Command (TASS) headquartered in Richmond, Va., is the third largest command organization in the U.S. Army Reserve. The command is made up of approximately 6,632 Army Reserve Soldiers assigned to 13 brigades aligned under three major subordinate divisions with units located nationwide.

Anderson promoted Roper in a ceremony earlier that day at the Fort Lee Quartermaster Museum.

"The 80th is already a great command. My goal is to enhance the work and the leadership of Maj. Gen. Gerety and to improve the accomplishments of the command thus far," said Roper who in civilian capacity is the Birmingham, Ala., police chief. "I plan to do everything I can to contribute to greater successes in the future."

"We recognize that we are in the midst of tremendous transformation," he added. "It's important that we ensure effective communication and collaboration across the command."